May 31, 2007 More than four decades since the conception of the mouse, computer input devices are only just beginning to tap the promise of truly interactive technology which facilitates a two-way conversation between machine and user rather than simply reacting to a limited set of command parameters. This search for a more intuitive and efficient mode of input is now well underway with Microsoft’s ground-breaking foray into the new category of Surface Computing. The Surface is a 30-inch “coffee table” display that not only enables direct interaction with digital content, but also responds to natural gestures and physical objects.